Like many historic Roman buildings, the fourth-floor apartment of Palazzo Massimo Lancellotti, features many elements that are typical of a main ‘piano nobile’ floor, featuring grand salons, high painted coffered ceilings, frescoed walls, large doors, and marble and stucco details. The frescoes in the main hall of the apartment are attributed to Agostino Tassi. Designed by architect Pirro Ligorio, the palazzo was built by Luis De Torres in 1552 and in 1625 it was inherited by the Lancellotti family, who have resided there ever since.
Luis De Torres came to Rome from Spain in the wake of Emperor Charles V of Habsburg and was appointed Archbishop of Salerno. He lived in the palazzo, as did his nephews. In 1625, his last surviving niece, Claudia De Torres, married Scipione Lancellotti.
The history of Palazzo Massimo Lancellotti De Torres
Construction began in 1542 under Luigi de Torres (1495-1553), the Spanish-born Archbishop of Salerno, who purchased several pre-existing houses. The project was carried out by architect Pirro Ligorio and construction was completed in 1553.
One of the pre-existing buildings, known as ‘della vedova’ (meaning ‘belonging to the widow’), is believed to date back to the 4th century AD and was thought to be the residence of the guardians of the Odeon, a Roman concert hall whose ruins lie beneath the palazzo, as well as Emperor Domitian’s stadium, which corresponds to the present-day Piazza Navona.
The late Renaissance building has an irregular plan and is arranged around two courtyards. The two ashlar-decorated façades, facing Piazza Navona and Via della Cuccagna, have four storeys of windows surmounted by a richly decorated cornice adorned with lion heads, rosettes and towers, emblems of the De Torres family.
In 1632, Claudia De Torres, the last of the Roman branch, married Scipione Lancellotti, bringing the building as her dowry, after which it became known as ‘De Torres Lancellotti’.
The Lancellotti family traces its origins to Rinaldo di Durazzo, Prince of Capua, the illegitimate son of Ladislao di Durazzo, King of Naples (1377-1414).
Film sets
Private events
Weddings
